Liquid crystal display device

ABSTRACT

A liquid crystal display device that includes: a liquid crystal display panel; a backlight unit disposed on the rear surface side of the liquid crystal display panel; and a flexible printed circuit whose end is connected to a terminal portion of the liquid crystal display panel. In the device, the backlight unit includes a frame-shaped mold, the liquid crystal display device includes at least a fixing member for use for fixing the liquid crystal display panel to the frame-shaped mold in an area not including a display area of the liquid crystal display panel, and the fixing member is shaped like a ring, and inside of the ring of the fixing member, the liquid crystal display panel and the frame-shaped mold are disposed. The resulting liquid crystal display device can implement size and profile reduction with ease.

The present application claims priority from Japanese applicationJP2005-312619 filed on Oct. 27, 2005, the content of which is herebyincorporated by reference into this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to liquid crystal display devices and,more specifically, to a technology working effectively when a liquidcrystal display panel is fixed to a backlight unit including a lightguide plate, an optical sheet group, and others.

A color TFT (Thin Film Transistor) module including a small-sized liquidcrystal display panel with subpixels of about 240×320×3 is widely usedas a display section of portable equipment, e.g., mobile phone.

Such a liquid crystal display module generally includes a liquid crystaldisplay panel, and a backlight unit that exposes the liquid crystaldisplay panel to light. When the liquid crystal display module is usedas a display section as portable equipment such as mobile phone, thebacklight unit is configured by a resin-molded frame (hereinafter,referred to as mold), an optical sheet group, a light guide plate, areflective sheet, and a light source. The optical sheet group and thelight guide plate are disposed inside of the mold, and the reflectivesheet is disposed below the light guide plate. The light source isdisposed on the side surface of the light guide plate, and isexemplified by a white light-emitting diode.

FIGS. 8A to 8B are both a diagram for illustrating a liquid crystaldisplay module of a previous type for use for mobile phones.Specifically, FIG. 8A is a plan view (viewed from the side of a liquidcrystal display panel, from the front surface side, or from the side ofa viewer), and FIG. 8B is a side view.

The liquid crystal display panel is configured by a pair of glasssubstrates (5, 6), an upper polarizer 7, and a lower polarizer (notshown). The glass substrates are facing each other with a liquid crystallayer sandwiched therebetween, and the upper polarizer is affixed tothese glass substrates. The glass substrate 6 carries thereon asemiconductor chip 12. Such a liquid crystal display panel is disposedin a mold 1.

With the liquid crystal display module of FIGS. 8A and 8B, forimplementation of size and profile reduction, a flexible printed circuit(hereinafter, referred to as FPC) 11 is bent and directed to the rearsurface side of the backlight unit, and then fixed thereto. The FPC 11is equipped with electronic components such as resistance and capacitor,and a white light-emitting diode serving as a light source. Note herethat, in FIGS. 8A and 8B, a reference numeral 40 denotes a clearancebetween the liquid crystal display panel and the mold 1.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the liquid crystal display module of FIGS. 8A and 8B, the liquidcrystal display panel is fixed to the frame-shaped resin mold 1 by adouble-faced tape 10. FIGS. 9A and 9B each show the displacementposition of the double-faced tape 10.

Using the double-faced tape 10 for fixing use requires, however, somelevel of area good for effective bonding. Also required is flatness forthe bonding surface of the frame-shaped resin mold 1, or there is aproblem of poor repairability (recyclability).

In the configuration that the FPC 11 connected to a terminal portion ofthe liquid crystal display panel is bent and directed to the rearsurface of the backlight unit, a double-faced tape 31 is used to pressdown the FPC 11 not to arise from the surface or bulge due to thebending repulsion (hereinafter, referred to as spring back force).

For the FPC 11 not to arise from the surface or bulge, there needs toput some thought into displacement position of the double-faced tape 31,and increases the area for taping. When the fixing force is not yetenough, a metal plate or others have to be used to cover over the FPC11. This is the cause of preventing the liquid crystal display modulefrom being reduced in size and profile.

The invention is proposed to solve such problems observed in theprevious technology, and advantages of the invention are to provide thetechnology of implementing the size and profile reduction with ease fora liquid crystal display device.

These and other advantages and new features of the invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description of the invention whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The typical main disclosure of the invention is summarized as below.

1. A liquid crystal display device that includes: a liquid crystaldisplay panel; a backlight unit disposed on the rear surface side of theliquid crystal display panel; and a flexible printed circuit whose endis connected to a terminal portion of the liquid crystal display panel.In the device, the backlight unit includes a frame-shaped mold, theliquid crystal display device includes at least a fixing member for usefor fixing the liquid crystal display panel to the frame-shaped mold inan area not including a display area of the liquid crystal displaypanel, and the fixing member is shaped like a ring, and inside of thering of the fixing member, the liquid crystal display panel and theframe-shaped mold are disposed.

2. According to 1, the flexible printed circuit is bent outside of theframe of the frame-shaped mold, and is partially disposed on the rearsurface side of the frame-shaped mold, the flexible printed circuit isdisposed in the ring of the fixing member, and the fixing member fixes,to the rear surface side of the frame-shaped mold, a bent portion of theflexible printed circuit disposed on the rear surface side of theframe-shaped mold.

3. According to 1 or 2, the fixing member is at least provided to two ofthe area not including the display area of the liquid crystal displaypanel.

4. According to any one of 1 to 3, the frame-shaped mold is formed witha notch on the side wall on one longer side, the fixing member isdisposed across the notch, and with a clamping force of the fixingmember, the notch is deformed, and the liquid crystal display panel ispositioned on another side wall on the other longer side of theframe-shaped mold.

5. According to any one of 1 to 3, the frame-shaped mold is formed witha notch on the side wall on one shorter side, the fixing member isdisposed across the notch, and with a clamping force of the fixingmember, the notch is deformed, and the liquid crystal display panel ispositioned on another side wall on the other shorter side of theframe-shaped mold.

6. According to any one of 1 to 3, the frame-shaped mold is formed witha notch on the side wall of one longer side, and on the side wall of oneshorter side, the fixing member includes a longer-side fixing member anda shorter-side fixing member, the longer-side fixing member is disposedacross the notch formed on the side wall of the one longer side of theframe-shaped mold, the shorter-side fixing member is disposed across thenotch formed on the side wall of the one shorter side of theframe-shaped mold, and with a clamping force of the longer- andshorter-side fixing members, the notches formed on the side walls of theframe-shaped mold are deformed, and the liquid crystal display panel ispositioned at a corner portion of the frame-shaped mold.

7. According to 6, the longer-side fixing member is provided at leasttwo portions in the area not including the display area of the liquidcrystal display panel, including an upper-side area and a lower-sidearea than the display area.

8. According to any one of 1 to 3, the liquid crystal display panel isprovided with a conductive layer on the surface on a viewer side, thefixing member is conductive, and the fixing member is made to come incontact with the conductive layer of the liquid crystal display panel.

9. According to 8, the fixing member is made to come in contact with apredetermined terminal of the flexible printed circuit.

10. According to any one of 1 to 3, the liquid crystal display panel isprovided with a semiconductor chip, the fixing member is light tight,and the fixing member is disposed to cover the semiconductor chip.

11. According to any one of 1 to 10, the fixing member is a ring-shapedelastic body.

12. According to any one of 1 to 10, the fixing member is a band-shapedclamping member.

13. According to any one of 1 to 12, the frame-shaped mold is formedwith a concave portion for use for positioning the fixing member.

14. According to 13, the concave portion for use for positioning thefixing member is formed on the side surface of the frame-shaped mold.

15. According to 13, the concave portion for use for positioning thefixing member is formed on the rear surface of the frame-shaped mold.

Note here that the configurations of 1 to 15 are all just examples, andsurely not restrictive.

The effects derived by any typical disclosure of the invention aresummarized as below.

The liquid crystal display device of the invention easily implementssize and profile reduction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are both a diagram showing a liquid crystal displaymodule in a first embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are both a diagram for illustrating a liquid crystaldisplay module for use for a mobile phone as an application of theinvention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are both a diagram for illustrating an exemplary shapeof a mold of FIGS. 2A and 2B;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are both a diagram showing a modified example of theliquid crystal display module in the first embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are both a diagram for illustrating a liquid crystaldisplay module in a second embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 5C and 5D are both a diagram for illustrating a modified examplein the second embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are both a diagram showing a liquid crystal displaymodule in a third embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are both a diagram showing a liquid crystal displaymodule in a fourth embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are both a diagram for illustrating a previous liquidcrystal display module for use for a mobile phone;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are both a diagram showing, in the liquid crystaldisplay module of FIGS. 8A and 8B, the displacement position of adouble-faced tape for use for fixing a liquid crystal display panel to aframe-shaped resin mold 1;

FIG. 10 is a diagram for illustrating an abutment assembly process of aprevious liquid crystal display module; and

FIGS. 11A and 11B are both a diagram for illustrating a method of antistatic electricity of the previous liquid crystal display module.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the below, embodiments of the invention are described in detail byreferring to the accompanying drawings.

Note that, in all of the diagrams for use for illustrating theembodiments, any component having the same function and capability isunder the same reference numeral, and not described twice.

A liquid crystal display module of embodiments of the invention is acolor TFT module including a small-sized liquid crystal display panelwith subpixels of about 240×320×3, and is used as a display section ofportable equipment, e.g., mobile phone.

Exemplary Basic Configuration of Liquid Crystal Display Module asApplication of Invention

FIGS. 2A and 2B are both a diagram for illustrating a liquid crystaldisplay module for use for a mobile phone as an application of theinvention. FIG. 2A is a cross sectional diagram showing the crosssectional configuration of a portion cut along a line A-A′ of FIG. 1Athat will be described later, and FIG. 2B is a cross sectional diagramshowing the cross sectional configuration of a portion cut along a lineB-B′ of FIG. 1A that will be described later.

In the liquid crystal display module of FIGS. 2A and 2B, a backlightunit includes an optical sheet group 2, a light guide plate 3, areflective sheet 4, and a white light-emitting diode 15. The opticalsheet group 2 is configured by a downward diffusion sheet, two lenssheets, and an upward diffusion sheet. The reflective sheet 4 isdisposed below the light guide plate 3, and the white light-emittingdiode 15 is disposed on the side surface of the light guide plate 3. Thebacklight unit of the embodiments is configured by such components,i.e., the optical sheet group 2, the light guide plate 3, the reflectivesheet 4, and the white light-emitting diode 15, which are disposed inthe mold 1 with the layout shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. Note here that theabove configuration of the optical sheet group 2 is not the onlypossibility.

A liquid crystal display panel is configured as below. That is, glasssubstrates 5 and 6 are stacked together with a predetermined spacetherebetween. The glass substrate 6 is provided thereon with a pixelelectrode, a thin film transistor, or others, and is referred also to asTFT substrate or active matrix substrate. The glass substrate 5 isformed thereon with a color filter or others, and is referred also to asopposing substrate. These substrates are then attached together using aframe-shaped sealing compound provided in the vicinity of edge portionsbetween the substrates. The seal compound is partially formed with anaperture for injection of a liquid crystal material to inside of theseal compound between the substrates. After material injection as such,the aperture is closed, and then polarizers (7, 8) are attached to theouter surfaces of the substrates, respectively.

As such, the liquid crystal display panel has the configuration in whichthe liquid crystal material is sandwiched between a pair of substrates.Note that the substrates serve well as long as they are being insulated,and the material therefor is not restrictive to glass, and plastic orothers are also options. The color filter may be provided not to theopposing substrate side but to the TFT substrate side. If withmonochrome display, the color filter is not in need. If with a fieldsequential liquid crystal display device, no color filter is provided,and a three-color light source may be used as an alternative to thewhite light-emitting diode.

If with a TN (Twisted Nematic) or VA (Vertically Aligned) liquid crystaldisplay panel, an opposing electrode is provided on the opposingsubstrate side, and is provided on the TFT substrate side if with an IPS(In-Plane Switching) liquid crystal display panel.

In the invention, when there is no need to describe the internalconfiguration of the liquid crystal display panel, no detaileddescription will be given therefor. The invention is always applicableto liquid crystal display panels irrespective of configuration.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are both a diagram for illustrating an exemplary shapeof the mold of FIGS. 2A and 2B. Specifically, FIG. 3A is a plan view(viewed from the side of a liquid crystal display panel, from the frontsurface side, or from the side of a viewer), and FIG. 3B is a bottomview.

The mold 1 of FIGS. 3A and 3B is configured with no bottom surface, andwith an aperture portion at the center part, i.e., is a frame-shapedbody of substantially square cross section (or tube-shaped body). Withsuch a configuration, the reflective sheet 4 is affixed to the rearsurface side of the frame-shaped mold 1 using a double-faced tape 9.

The liquid crystal display panel is supported by and fixed to, at theedge portion of the lower glass substrate 6, a height-different portion50 b formed to the mold 1.

Above the height-different portion 51 of the mold, the optical sheetgroup 2 is supported, and below the optical sheet group 2, the lightguide plate 3 is disposed.

Below the light guide plate 3, the reflective sheet 4 is so disposed asto cover the aperture portion of the mold 1.

The end portion of the lower polarizer 8 is disposed inside of anotherheight-different portion 51, i.e., when viewed from above, the endportion of the lower polarizer 8 is overlaid on the height-differentportion 51. That is, the lower polarizer 8 is so disposed as not tooverlay the height-different portions 50 a and 50 b. Such aconfiguration enables to reduce any effect possibly caused by thethickness of the lower polarizer 8, thereby favorably implementing thinprofile.

As to the shorter sides of the mold, the side provided with the whitelight-emitting diode 15 is formed with the height-different portion 50 asimilarly to the height-different portion 50 b. This height-differentportion 50 a is formed wider than the height-different portion 50 b, andis formed with a back-side concave portion 16 carrying therein the whitelight-emitting diode 15.

The light guide plate 3 is disposed more inward than theheight-different portion 51. By reducing the area of the light guideplate 3 as such, the luminance per unit area can be increased.

In FIGS. 2A and 2B, the height-different portions 50 a and 50 b are eachprovided with the double-faced tape 10. For application of theinvention, however, the double-faced tape 10 is not necessarilyprovided. If the double-faced tape 10 is provided for application of theinvention, the area therefor can be reduced in size, or the double-facedtape 10 can be thinner for use because the adhesion level is notrequired so high.

When the FPC 11 is directed (bent) toward the rear surface side of thebacklight unit for fixing, the electronic components provided on the FPC11 can be partially housed inside of the mold 1.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3B, the mold 1 is formed with concave portions(61, 62) that open toward the lower side (rear surface side). Theseconcave portions (61, 62) can accommodate therein at least part of theelectronic components provided on the FPC 11.

First Embodiment

FIGS. 1A and 1B are both a diagram showing a liquid crystal displaymodule in a first embodiment of the invention. Specifically, FIG. 1A isa plan view (viewed from the side of a liquid crystal display panel,from the front surface side, or from the side of a viewer), and FIG. 1Bis a side view.

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the liquid crystal display module of thisembodiment uses a fixing member 35 to fix both a liquid crystal displaypanel and a backlight unit at positions not including the display areaof the liquid crystal display panel as if those being covered fromoutside. The fixing member 35 is a ring-shaped elastic body such asrubber band, or a band-shaped clamping member.

Also in this embodiment, the FPC 11 is bent and directed to the rearsurface of the backlight unit for fixing to the rear surface side of themold 1. In FIGS. 1A and 1B, the bent portion of the FPC 11 is fixed tothe rear surface side of the mold 1 using a double-faced tape (31 ofFIG. 9B). Alternatively, as indicated by A in FIG. 4B, the bent portionof the FPC 11 may be also fixed using the fixing member 35.

As such, in this embodiment, the fixing member 35 is used as analternative to the double-faced tape 10 to fix the liquid crystaldisplay panel and the backlight unit as if those being covered fromoutside. This accordingly eliminates the previous need for areareservation for effective bonding using the double-faced tape 10. Theprevious need with the double-faced tape 10 is also eliminated forflatness for the bonding surface of the resin mold 1, and therepairability (recyclability) can be successfully increased.

Because of increasing demand for a thin-profile liquid crystal displaymodule, for the liquid crystal display panel, the glass of 0.4 or 0.3 mmthickness is taking place of the currently-popular glass of 0.5 mmthickness. Because the glass strength is reduced with the square of theglass thickness, repairing the liquid crystal display panel (peeling offthe panel from the backlight unit) will be difficult if the double-facedtape 10 is used to attach the panel to the backlight unit. With thisbeing the case, however, the present embodiment is capable of increasingthe repairability (recyclability).

In the configuration that the FPC 11 connected to a terminal portion ofthe liquid crystal display panel is bent and directed to the rearsurface of the backlight unit, the FPC 11 often arises from the surfaceor bulge due to the bending repulsion (hereinafter, referred to asspring back force).

The double-faced tape 31 is previously used to press down the FPC 11 notto arise from the surface or bulge. As an alternative to thedouble-faced tape 31, the fixing member 35 of this embodiment may beused to press down the FPC 11 from outside not to arise from the surfaceor bulge. If this is the case, the double-faced tape 31 may not be used,or used together with the fixing member 35.

The double-faced tape 31 is not suitable for use when the spring backforce is considerably large, or to any part always exposed to theremaining stress of the constant load. On the other hand, the fixingmember 35 of the embodiment is applicable to such a part always exposedto the remaining stress of the constant load.

What is more, no metal plate is in need for pressing down the FPC 11 notto arise from the surface or the bulge so that the whole of the liquidcrystal display module can be reduced in weight.

Second Embodiment

For the aim of reducing the variation in the position of a displayscreen of the liquid crystal display panel, i.e., variation observedwhen the liquid crystal display panel is equipped inside of the mold, asshown in FIG. 10, the glass substrates (5, 6) of the liquid crystaldisplay panel are made to abut corners of the frame-shaped mold 1 forassembly.

The issue here is that such abutment assembly is performed manually, andthus has the problems of the poor assembly precision, the lower sidewalls of the resin mold 1 around the glass substrates (5, 6), and adifficulty in assembly of corner abutment. The lower side walls of theresin mold 1 are resulted from the fact that the recent liquid crystaldisplay module is low in profile, and the difficulty in assembly ofcorner abutment is resulted from the fact that the recent glasssubstrates (5, 6) are getting thinner. There is also a concern aboutsafety during the abutment assembly associated with the thinner glasssubstrates (5, 6). That is, during the abutment assembly, fingers easilytouch the corners of the glass substrates (5, 6), especially the lowerright corner portion of the glass substrates for upper-left abutmentassembly indicated by A of FIG. 10.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are both a diagram for illustrating a liquid crystaldisplay module of a second embodiment of the invention. Specifically,FIG. 5A is a plan view (viewed from the side of a liquid crystal displaypanel, from the front surface side, or from the side of a viewer), andFIG. 5B is a side view.

Also in this embodiment, the fixing member 35 is used to fix both aliquid crystal display panel and a backlight unit as if those beingcovered from outside.

As shown in FIG. 5C, in the second embodiment, a side wall 1 a of theframe-shaped mold 1 is formed with notches 36. As shown in FIG. 5A, oneof the longer sides of the mold 1 is formed with two of the notches 36,and one of the shorter sides of the frame-shaped mold 1 is formed withone of the notches 36.

The fixing member 35 is disposed across these notches 36. Accordingly,in this embodiment, the clamping force of the fixing member 35 deformsthe notches 36, and the liquid crystal display panel is moved and comesin contact with the corner portion of the frame-shaped mold 1 (in FIG.5A, the upper left corner portion indicated by an arrow F). As such, theabutment assembly described above is automatically performed.

When the notch 36 is formed only to one of the longer sides of the mold1, the liquid crystal display panel is positioned on the other longerside of the mold 1. Similarly, when the notch 36 is formed only to oneof the shorter sides of the mold 1, the liquid crystal display panel ispositioned on the other shorter side of the mold 1.

In the present embodiment, through fixing using the fixing member 35,the liquid crystal display panel can be aligned at the corner portion sothat the positioning accuracy can be accordingly increased. What ismore, using the fixing member 35 eliminates the need for abutment andallows positioning even with the lower side walls of the frame-shapedmold 1, and can be adapted for a case with the thinner liquid crystaldisplay panel.

Note that, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5A, the side wall 1 a ofthe frame-shaped mold 1 is formed with a concave portion 37 for use forpositioning the fixing member 35. As shown in FIG. 5D, this concaveportion 37 is formed on the side surface of the side wall of theframe-shaped mold 1, or on the back surface (rear surface).

Third Embodiment

The upper polarizer 7 is attached with a protection film, and when theproduct is actually put into use, the protection film layer has to bepeeled off. The problem here is that peeling off this protection filmgenerates static electricity. The glass substrate 5 is charged by thisstatic electricity, thereby resulting in unusual display of the liquidcrystal display panel.

For the aim of removing the static electricity, as shown in FIGS. 1A to11B, the glass substrate 5 configuring the liquid crystal display panelis formed thereon with a transparent conductive layer, e.g., ITO(Indium-in-Oxide). Thus formed transparent conductive layer is thenelectrically connected to a predetermined terminal provided on the glasssubstrate 6 using a conductive resin material 39.

Such a liquid crystal display module of FIGS. 11A and 11B requires,however, an additional process and any device and material for the use.The coating area is also required, whereby the liquid crystal displaypanel is increased in size. There is also another problem of needing alarger clearance for the coating area in the device on a client side,considering the thickness or running of the coating material.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are both a diagram for illustrating a liquid crystaldisplay module of a third embodiment of the invention. Specifically,FIG. 6A is a plan view (viewed from the side of a liquid crystal displaypanel, from the front surface side, or from the side of a viewer), andFIG. 6B is a side view.

Also in this embodiment, the fixing member 35 is used to fix both aliquid crystal display panel and a backlight unit as if those beingcovered from outside.

In this embodiment, the fixing member 35 is provided with conductivity.This fixing member 35 is made to come in contact with a transparentconductive layer (not shown) formed on the glass substrate 5 configuringthe liquid crystal display panel. As indicated by A in FIG. 6A, thefixing member 35 is also made to come in contact with a predeterminedterminal (not shown) of the FPC 11.

Such a configuration enables to discharge the static electricity builtup when the protection film attached on the polarizer 7 is peeled off.Such electricity discharge is made via the conductive fixing member 35and the predetermined terminal of the FPC 11 so that the liquid crystaldisplay panel can be prevented from displaying something unusual.

What is more, in this embodiment, there is no need to any specificaddition process and device, and the size of the previous liquid crystaldisplay panel is applicable. As to the conductive area, there is no moreneed for a larger clearance in the device on a client side.

In this embodiment, as an IPS liquid crystal display panel, any panel ofa configuration including no opposing electrode on the surface of theglass substrate 5 on the liquid crystal side is especially effective.However, such a configuration is surely not restrictive, and theconfiguration of including an opposing electrode on the surface of theglass substrate 5 on the liquid crystal side is also applicable.

Fourth Embodiment

A semiconductor chip is known to erroneously operate under the influenceof incoming light. A semiconductor chip 12 is thus sometimes required tobe light tight on the surface, and if this is the case, thesemiconductor chip 12 is attached with a light tight tape.

With such a method, however, the adhesion of the tape and the like isconsiderably poor. This is because the surface of the semiconductor chip12 is arisen due to coating of a resin material aiming to increase theresistance to moisture, and the area available for bonding is small insize. When the portion attached with nothing is made of a siliconematerial, there is a problem of a difficulty in attaching the tape notto come off.

FIGS. 7A to 7B are both a diagram for illustrating a liquid crystaldisplay module of a fourth embodiment of the invention. Specifically,FIG. 7A is a plan view (viewed from the side of a liquid crystal displaypanel, from the front surface side, or from the side of a viewer), andFIG. 7B is a side view.

Also in this embodiment, the fixing member 35 is used to fix both aliquid crystal display panel and a backlight unit as if those beingcovered from outside.

In this embodiment, the fixing member 35 is made light tight. Thislight-tight fixing member 35 is so disposed as to cover the surface ofthe semiconductor chip 12 so that the surface of the semiconductor chip12 becomes light tight.

In this embodiment, the surface of the semiconductor chip 12 can belight tight even if it is not flat and irrespective of the material ofthe surface of the light-tight portion of the semiconductor chip 12.

As described above, according to the embodiment, a liquid crystaldisplay module can be easily reduced in size and profile.

Note here that the embodiments described above may be combined asappropriate as long as no contradiction arises thereby.

The invention is not restrictive to a liquid crystal display device, andis surely applicable to other types of display device such as organicelectroluminescent display devices. If with an application tovoluntary-emission display devices such as organic electroluminescentdisplay devices, there is no need for a light guide plate, a whitelight-emitting diode, and others.

Described in this embodiment is an exemplary case of applying theinvention to the frame-shaped mold 1 with no bottom surface. This issurely not the only possibility, and the invention is applicable to amold with a bottom surface. However, the mold with no bottom surface isconsidered preferable in consideration of the thickness increase by thebottom surface.

The fixing member 35 may be a tape, and may be wound around the moldonce or more.

While the invention proposed by the inventors has been described indetail based on the embodiments, the foregoing description is in allaspects illustrative and not restrictive. It is understood that numerousother modifications and variations can be devised without departing fromthe scope of the invention.

1. A liquid crystal display device, comprising: a liquid crystal displaypanel; a backlight unit disposed on a rear surface side of the liquidcrystal display panel; and a flexible printed circuit whose an end isconnected to a terminal portion of the liquid crystal display panel,wherein the backlight unit includes a frame-shaped mold, the liquidcrystal display device includes at least a fixing member for use forfixing the liquid crystal display panel to the frame-shaped mold in anarea not including a display area of the liquid crystal display panel,and the fixing member is shaped like a ring, and inside of the ring ofthe fixing member, the liquid crystal display panel and the frame-shapedmold are disposed.
 2. The liquid crystal display device according toclaim 1, wherein the flexible printed circuit is bent outside of a frameof the frame-shaped mold, and is partially disposed on a rear surfaceside of the frame-shaped mold, the flexible printed circuit is disposedin the ring of the fixing member, and the fixing member fixes, to therear surface side of the frame-shaped mold, a bent portion of theflexible printed circuit disposed on the rear surface side of theframe-shaped mold.
 3. The liquid crystal display device according toclaim 1, wherein the fixing member is at least provided to two of thearea not including the display area of the liquid crystal display panel.4. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein theframe-shaped mold is formed with a notch on a side wall on one longerside, the fixing member is disposed across the notch, and with aclamping force of the fixing member, the notch is deformed, and theliquid crystal display panel is positioned on another side wall on theother longer side of the frame-shaped mold.
 5. The liquid crystaldisplay device according to claim 1, wherein the frame-shaped mold isformed with a notch on a side wall on one shorter side, the fixingmember is disposed across the notch, and with a clamping force of thefixing member, the notch is deformed, and the liquid crystal displaypanel is positioned on another side wall on the other shorter side ofthe frame-shaped mold.
 6. The liquid crystal display device according toclaim 1, wherein the frame-shaped mold is formed with a notch on a sidewall of one longer side, and on a side wall of one shorter side, thefixing member includes a longer-side fixing member and a shorter-sidefixing member, the longer-side fixing member is disposed across thenotch formed on the side wall of the one longer side of the frame-shapedmold, the shorter-side fixing member is disposed across the notch formedon the side wall of the one shorter side of the frame-shaped mold, andwith a clamping force of the longer- and shorter-side fixing members,the notches formed on the side walls of the frame-shaped mold aredeformed, and the liquid crystal display panel is positioned at a cornerportion of the frame-shaped mold.
 7. The liquid crystal display deviceaccording to claim 6, wherein the longer-side fixing member is providedat least two portions in the area not including the display area of theliquid crystal display panel, including an upper-side area and alower-side area than the display area.
 8. The liquid crystal displaydevice according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal display panel isprovided with a conductive layer on a surface on a viewer side, thefixing member is conductive, and the fixing member is made to come incontact with the conductive layer of the liquid crystal display panel.9. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 8, wherein thefixing member is made to come in contact with a predetermined terminalof the flexible printed circuit.
 10. The liquid crystal display deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal display panel isprovided with a semiconductor chip, the fixing member is light tight,and the fixing member is disposed to cover the semiconductor chip. 11.The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein thefixing member is a ring-shaped elastic body.
 12. The liquid crystaldisplay device according to claim 1, wherein the fixing member is aband-shaped clamping member.
 13. The liquid crystal display deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the frame-shaped mold is formed with aconcave portion for use for positioning the fixing member.
 14. Theliquid crystal display device according to claim 13, wherein the concaveportion for use for positioning the fixing member is formed on a sidesurface of the frame-shaped mold.
 15. The liquid crystal display deviceaccording to claim 13, wherein the concave portion for use forpositioning the fixing member is formed on a rear surface of theframe-shaped mold.